08:14AM - 17.11.'14
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News Source: autoblog.com
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The wait is finally over. After months of spy shots, rumor and innuendo, Ford has officially pulled the wraps off its new Shelby GT350. Judging by the spec sheet and the promises being made – especially that the Shelby GT350 will be "an all-day track car that's also street legal" – the wait appears to have been worth it. First things first: The new Shelby GT350 will launch with a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V8 engine that uses a flat-plane crankshaft, a first for a production V8 from Ford. (Read more about what makes a flat-plane crankshaft different here). We don't have confirmed information on power levels, other than a promise of "more than 500 horsepower" and "a torque peak above 400" pound-feet. Ford further says the engine will be a "high-revving" V8, though no actual redline is revealed. A six-speed manual gearbox and Torsen limited-slip differential will be standard, while an engine oil cooler and transmission cooler will be available as part of a Track Pack. Ford has stiffened the GT350's chassis even more than the standard Mustang GT, which is already the stiffest in the company's history, with an injection-molded carbon fiber composite grille opening and optional lightweight tower-to-tower brace. Those bits, coupled with a wider front track and recalibrated spring rates and bushings, plus a lowered ride height, will pay handling dividends. But we're more excited by Ford's first use of MagneRide dampers, which continually adjust to match road conditions and driver demands. Aluminum wheels – 19-inches in diameter and measuring 10.5 inches wide in front and 11.0 inches at the rear – will be shod in a custom set of Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, and two-piece, cross-drilled rotors with Brembo six-piston calipers in front and four-piston in the rear, round out the rolling stock quite nicely. Keen-eyed readers will note that all the bodywork ahead of the windshield is completely new for the Shelby GT350, and it's been kept as low and tight around the engine as possible to reduce drag, increase downforce and look ridiculously cool, likely in that order. A lower front splitter scoops air at the front and works with a contoured belly pan and rear lip spoiler to manage airflow, and the widened aluminum front fenders feature vents to remove air from the wheel wells. Also, they look rather mean, which is a good thing. Recaro front seats and a flat-bottom steering wheel seem appropriate for track-day excursions, as do the deletion of several chrome or bright sunlight-glinting trim pieces inside the cabin. Ford says its driver control system will feature five different modes that adjust anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, steering effort, throttle mapping, MagneRide tuning and exhaust settings. Oh, and speaking of that exhaust, Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer, Ford Global Performance Vehicles, wants you to know that the GT350's flat-plane V8 is going to sound mean, too. "Make no mistake, this is an American interpretation of a flat-plane crankshaft V8, and the 5.2-liter produces a distinctive, throaty howl from its four exhaust tips," said Hameedi. |
